Flashback: The only bowlers to take 17 wickets in a first-class match in this century
Taking a ten-wicket haul in a first-class game is a feat that is not an everyday occurrence for a bowler. But then, how about taking 17 wickets in a single first-class match? Well, the very fact that in this entire century there have been just two bowlers who have accomplished this feat should make us understand that the achievement is an incredibly special one.
And, the two men are Kyle Abbott and John Davison. While Davison accomplished the feat in the year 2004 against the United States of America side, Abbott took his 17-wicket haul in the year 2019 against the Somerset outfit. Let us unravel what happened in these two matches.
Davison’s feat
In the encounter between Canada and the USA, Canada batted first and was bowled out for a total of 221. In reply, the USA side could only manage a paltry total of just 136. And, the chief destroyer with the ball was John Davison. In the 14.4 overs that he bowled, Davison picked up 8 wickets and gave away 61 runs.
Canada scored 145 in their second innings and set the USA side a target of 231 for victory. The USA were once again rendered clueless by Davison in the second innings too. The right-arm off-spinner picked up a colossal 9 wickets in the second innings with the ball and conceded 76 runs in his 21.2 overs. And, it was Davison’s stupendous performance that helped the Canada side to thrash the USA outfit by 104 runs.
Abbot’s excellence
Now, let us come to the occasion when Kyle Abbott scalped his 17-wicket haul. In the match between Hampshire and Somerset, Hampshire wielded the willow first and posted a total of 196 on the board. In reply, Somerset were bowled out for 142, and Kyle Abbott scalped 9 wickets in the 18.4 overs that he bowled, leaking a meagre 40 runs in the process.
Hampshire scored 226 in the second innings and set Somerset a challenging target of 281 for victory in the second innings. And yet again, it was the magic of Abbott that did the trick for the Hampshire outfit. Abbott picked up 8 wickets in the second innings, and gave away 46 runs in 17.4 overs, as the Somerset side was bowled out for 144. Hampshire won the match by 136 runs.
